Interstate 290 Massachusetts

Routing

Interstate 290 in Massachusetts connects Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike with the city of Worcester and to points northeast via Interstate 495. The western terminus of Interstate 290 is also the northern terminus of Interstate 395. Interstate 395 travels south from this point into Connecticut, and it connects with Interstate 95 in Eastern Connecticut. Interstates 395, 290, and 190 form a major north-south freeway corridor in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

History

Interstate 290 opened initially through Washington Square in September, 1960. Completion of the route occurred in 1970 with the extension to Marlborough.1

Advisory signage for the switch from Interstate 290 west to Interstate 395 south is in place before the freeway reaches the Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike interchange. A similar sign can be found on Interstate 395 northbound. Other instances in the Interstate system where two routes terminate at the same location include Interstate 195 and 495 at Wareham, Massachusetts and Interstates 64, 264, and 664 at Suffolk, Virginia. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

One-half mile north of the conclusion of Interstate 290 west and the beginning of Interstate 395 south. The Exit 7 connection between Interstates 290 & 395 and Interstate 90 (Mass Pike) features ramps to Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street). Massachusetts 12 travels between the Mass Pike and U.S. 20 (Washington Street) in an west-west fashion through Auburn. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

The last Interstate 290 westbound exit - Exit 7 for Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike & Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street). The exit numbering convention of Interstate 395 continues the Interstate 290 numbers to avoid motorist confusion. Exit 6B for U.S. 20 (Washington Street) westward is 700 feet to the south and is the second of three ramps to serve the town of Auburn. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

A directional ramp departs Interstate 290 westbound for Interstate 90 & Massachusetts 12. Pictured here is the ramp split for Southbridge Street north from the roadway bound for the Mass Pike. The exit is the last before the toll plaza. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

After passing through the Mass Pike toll plaza (Exit 10), drivers partition into the respective ramps for Interstate 90 east and west. Interstate 90 next meets U.S. 20 & Massachusetts 146 to the east and Interstate 84 to the west. Travelers merging onto Interstate 90 from Interstate 395 northbound use the same ramps to the Mass Pike. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

Interstate 395 northbound nears the full-cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 20 (Washington Street) at Exits 6A/B. Through traffic bound for the transition to Interstate 290 east is advised to move to the left lane to avoid the weaving traffic from the Washington Street ramps. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

Exit 6B onto U.S. 20 (Washington Street) westbound departs Interstate 395 northbound three quarters of a mile south of the transition to Interstate 290 east. Exit 7 constitutes the connection to Interstate 90 (Mass Pike) from Interstate 395 northbound by way of Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street) south. Massachusetts 12 sees an on-ramp to Interstate 90 after its intersection with Oxford Street west of Interstates 290 & 395. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

A left-hand on-ramp merges onto Interstate 395 northbound from the Massachusetts Turnpike toll plaza (Exit 10). A pair of end signs reside at the merge that usher the transition from Interstate 395 north to Interstate 290 east. Interstate 290 splits from Interstate 190 11 miles to the north. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

Salt residue coats the roadway of Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike eastbound as it draws within two miles of Exit 10 for Interstate 290 east/Interstate 395 south. The control points are local in that Auburn is where Exit 10 is located and Worcester is only three miles to the north. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (2/00).

Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike eastbound at Exit 10 for the joint termini of Interstate 290/395. Massachusetts 12 is included on this signage as the state highway straddles the two Interstates from Auburn northward into Worcester. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (4/19/02).

Next to depart is the loop ramp onto Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street) northbound to downtown Auburn and Worcester. Drivers bound for U.S. 20 should continue to the Interstate 395 southbound off-ramp ahead. Interstate 395 meets U.S. 20 (Washington Street) at Exits 6A/B south of Interstates 90 and 290. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

Continuing past the Massachusetts 12 northbound ramp is the split for Interstate 290 east to Worcester and Interstate 395 south to Norwich, Connecticut. Interstate 395 reaches Oxford (via Sutton Avenue) in five miles and Webster (junction Massachusetts 16) in nine miles. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

One mile east of the Exit 6 trumpet interchange with Interstates 290 & 395 and Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street) at Auburn. Interstate 290 connects the Mass Pike with Worcester to the north and Interstate 395 with Oxford to the south. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

The first sign of the impending end of Interstate 290 lies ahead of the Exit 25A/B six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange with Solomons Pond and Mall Roads. The watched for stopped traffic ahead relates to the sharp ramp onto Interstate 495 northbound and the two-lane Hudson Street connector to Marlborough and Hudson. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

Exit 25B loops onto Solomons Pond Road north to Mall Road for the nearby Solomon Pond Mall, two miles west of the junction with Interstate 495. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

Junction Interstate 290 & 495 overhead posted one mile east of the Hudson Street connector interchange with the two freeways. Pleasant Street passes underneath the freeway ahead. There is no direct access between the two roadways. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

Exit 26B departs the Hudson Street connector for Interstate 495 northbound in one half mile. Interstate 495 loops northeast 26 miles to the Lowell Connector and U.S. 3, and 36 miles to junction Interstate 93 near Lawrence. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

The effects of the harsh New England winters take their toll on the Interstate 290 overpasses in the form of rust as Interstate 495 passes underneath at the westbound Interstate 290 cloverleaf ramp/Exit 25B. The Blue Star Memorial Highway/Interstate 495 arcs to the northeast to the industrial city of Lowell 28 miles away. Photo taken by Jim Teresco (3/01).